Underweight Elderly ICU Patients Have 1.5 Times Higher Delirium Incidence Compared to Normal Weight

Gangnam Severance Hospital Professor Oh Juyoung's Team Research
"Helps Prevent Delirium in ICU Patient Weight Management"

A study has found that underweight elderly patients have a higher likelihood of developing delirium compared to those with normal weight. Obesity or being overweight was not associated with the occurrence of delirium in elderly patients.

Professor Oh Ju-young and Lecturer Ko Yoo-jin from the Department of Psychiatry at Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital conducted a study on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the occurrence of delirium in a large group of intensive care patients, confirming these findings on the 22nd.

Professor Oh Ju-young (left), Department of Psychiatry, Gangnam Severance Hospital, and Lecturer Go Yoo-jin.

Delirium refers to a state in which mental abilities are impaired, causing sudden changes in consciousness and cognitive function. It shows symptoms similar to dementia, such as not knowing the current place or time, failing to recognize people, or not understanding simple words. Although it can occur at any age, it is common among the elderly and is frequently observed in intensive care patients, with about one in three ICU patients experiencing it.

The research team conducted the study by categorizing 5,622 patients aged 50 and older admitted to the intensive care unit of Gangnam Severance Hospital from January 2013 to April 2022 into BMI groups of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The average age of these patients was 72.9 years, with males accounting for 60.1%, slightly higher than females at 39.9%. Delirium occurred in 19.0% (1,069 patients) of the total patients.

The study results showed that underweight patients with a BMI below 18.5 had a significantly higher incidence of delirium compared to normal-weight patients (BMI 18.5?25). Underweight patients exhibited more than 1.5 times the rate of delirium occurrence compared to normal-weight patients. Conversely, overweight and obese conditions did not show a significant association with delirium incidence.

Professor Oh Ju-young stated, "This study is meaningful as it is the first to investigate the relationship between weight and delirium occurrence in intensive care patients," adding, "The higher incidence of delirium in underweight patients with low BMI suggests that managing weight and controlling underweight status in ICU patients may help prevent delirium." He continued, "In an era where most modern people struggle with overweight and obesity, attention is generally focused on high body weight, but in the elderly, especially ICU patients, being underweight can also be a dangerous issue that requires management."

This study was published in the international gerontology journal 'Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.'

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